Only War: The Forsaken

Cast from a blighted homeworld, the Guardsmen of Company F fight for the Imperium of Man along the war-torn Spinward Front. Despised by enemies, disparaged by allies, they have no one to trust except themselves for they are... The Forsaken!

I'd be interested in playing a Storm Trooper; after all, someone has to keep Rad safe from all you ruffians. How does the regiment choice/character creation work for support specialists, who would generally be from a different world?

Great choice, Ellipsis. One big difference for the Commissar and Storm Trooper is that they do not roll for a comrade. Cause, you know, everyone in the unit hates you. ;)

Flavorwise, I would say that Light Infantry or Recon are probably the best fit for Oremor. The main operational terrain being either jungle or hive makes things tough on mechanized units. Also, Oremor lacks the industrial base of Scintilla or Fenksworld, which makes producing all those vehicles somewhat difficult.

Ed: Depending on the terrain we could probably switch out Chimera and Sentinel. The Sentinel can operate almost anywhere, while the Chimera actually has armor and can fit all of us in there.

If we take one of the 1 point Commanding Officer choices, then we get more flexibility for Training and Special Kit Doctrines.

Fixed:

The regiment’s commander is decisive and unyielding, and once set on a course of action he will seldom change his mind. While this is invaluable during many actions his regiment undertakes, it leaves his forces inflexible in the face of changing battlefields.
Starting Skills: Command

Phlegmatic:

The regiment’s commander is quiet and contemplative, a man of few words. When he does speak, it is with great and solemn purpose, to give commands that have been considered in exacting detail. He does not command loyalty through rhetoric or heroics, but through quiet competence, and his men have learnt to trust in his skill and rely on the chain of command.
Starting Skills: Common Lore (Imperial Guard), Common Lore (War)

Supine:

The regiment’s commander is a devout man, absolutely loyal to the Imperium, but lacking in his own initiative. Incapable of the imagination and daring that gets an officer noticed by his superiors, he serves as little more than their mouthpiece. Bereft of any true command, the men must have faith if they are to survive in the fury of war.
Starting Skills: Common Lore (Ecclesiarchy), Common Lore (Imperial Creed)

Supine would provide some interesting RP choices along the lines of complete distrust in upper leadership; resentment at being sent into suicidal missions; and in keeping as the top commander of a Penal Legion would probably not be one of the Imperium's brightest sparks.

Cost: 3 points
Starting Skills: Forbidden Lore (choose one†)
Starting Talents: Hatred (choose one†)
†When selecting this doctrine, a single enemy of the Imperium must
be selected. The choice of Forbidden Lore speciality and Hatred must
reflect this choice of enemy.

Fieldcraft:

Cost: 4 points
Starting Aptitude: Agility
Special: When selecting this doctrine, nominate a single type
of terrain—Desert, Jungle, Tundra, Ash Wastes, Urban Ruins,
etc. When operating in that kind of terrain, failed Survival and
Navigate (Surface) Skill Tests may be re-rolled by characters
from a regiment with this doctrine.

Hardened Fighters:

Cost: 2 points
Characteristics: +2 Weapon Skill
Starting Talents: Street Fighting
Standard Regimental Kit: The regiment may replace its
standard melee weapon with either a Primary Weapon of
Common Availability or better, or it may apply the monoedged
upgrade to its standard melee weapon.

Cost: 2 points
Standard Regimental Kit: The regiment adds an injector
or inhaler and three doses of frenzon or five doses of stimm.
Additional doses must be obtained through requisition or
additional standard kit items.

Demolitions:

Cost: 3 points
Standard Regimental Kit: The regiment gains a +10 bonus
on all Logistics Tests made to obtain grenades, missiles,
explosives, and special tank ammunition.

Scavengers:

Cost: 3 points
Standard Regimental Kit: The regiment may choose to
gain a +10 bonus on any Logistics Test. However, on any
test where this bonus is used, if any doubles are rolled (22,
33, 44, etc.) whether the Test was a success or a failure, then
the scavenging and stealing have drawn unwanted attention
from higher authorities within the Imperial Guard or the
Departmento Munitorum.

Warrior Weapons:

Cost: 3 points
Starting Skills: Parry
Standard Regimental Kit: The regiment exchanges their
Main Weapon for a Low-Tech weapon of Common or better
Availability and a laspistol and two charge packs.

Well-Provisioned:

Cost: 3 points
Standard Regimental Kit: The regiment increases the
number of clips for their main ranged weapon and the
number of weeks’ rations they carry as standard by +2, and
gain an additional grenade of each type in their standard kit
(if applicable). If the regiment contains vehicles, this also
grants a +10 bonus on all Logistics tests to obtain fuel and
parts for repairing and maintaining those vehicles.

Specialists receive the same Homeworld traits, bonuses, and adjustments as regular guardsmen (RAW, p.26). I'm adding a house rule where Commissars and Storm Troopers (normally outsiders) have the option of choosing a different homeworld.

Rad and Ellipsis, you may choose either to be from Oremor (w/the Penal Colony adjustments) OR receive adjustments from another homeworld (even one with a higher point cost such as Schola Progenium) for your character. However like your squad mates, you will still suffer from the reduced 15 point penalty regarding costs for additional equipment.

In catching up I think Ellipsis has the right of it, the best choices for Oremor regiments would be either Light Infantry or Recon, particularly if they originated from one of the non-hive legions from the Unduz archipelago in the southern hemisphere. The Light Infantry would be primarily a penal garrison force, while the Recon element would be capable jungle/guerilla fighters and trackers (all the better for tracking escaped prisoners and dealing with the isle chain's near-feral native tribes).

I'm partial to Recon myself for RP opportunities.

If the we go with one of these Legions, they'd have to be considered hard-bitten survivors of some very nasty engagements. Without getting into too much spoiler-ish detail about the Oremor Affliction, I can say that eventually every one of the Unduz-based regiments has to deal with the fall-out of the Ylesium claustrum Warp incursion. Heck, the regiment may even be the consolidation of what is left of all of them.

Given that, their leader is probably either a survivor himself (Phlegmatic, like Bal suggested) respected by his peers, or a total incompetent placed in charge of what amounts to penal legion left-overs (Supine would work here, particularly if there was some question as to Warp-taint for the remnants, or just the questionable morality of the prisoners). Fixed would also work (these guys are expendable, this command is worthless, throw them to the meat-grinder and maybe I'm assigned a better command).

Another I kind of like, albeit more expensive was Melancholic, maybe the commander is a morose, beaten man who has survived too much on Oremor and is going through the motions out of loyalty to the survivors.

If we do go with the Oremor regiment, I'm thinking my sergeant will gradually tell the story of what they went through on that world to get to this point through his roleplay interactions. There may even be some mysteries revealed from the other campaign in this fashion, that I wouldn't otherwise be able to explore in DH.

Plus the links in continuity between eventually all three campaigns would be really neat.

Rad and Ellipsis, you may choose either to be from Oremor (w/the Penal Colony adjustments) OR receive adjustments from another homeworld (even one with a higher point cost such as Schola Progenium) for your character. However like your squad mates, you will still suffer from the reduced 15 point penalty regarding costs for additional equipment.

I'm fine with that. Can someone post a summary of the Schola Progenium attributes (since that is where most stormtroopers are trained) so I can make a decision?

Characteristic Modifiers: +3 to Willpower, and +3 to either Weapon Skill or Ballistic Skill.
Skills: All Progena characters are Trained in Common Lore (Imperial Guard), Common Lore (Imperium), Common Lore (War), and Linguistics (High Gothic).
Only In Death Does Duty End: Those that pass through the Schola Progenium are drilled each and every day by hardened drill abbots, and all are expected to defend the Emperor’s domain with their lives if necessary. All Progena may start with either Air of Authority or Unshakeable Faith.
Starting Wounds: Progena characters increase their starting
Wounds by +1.

If we go for Chameleoline cloaks, and also take Hardened Fighters (I like it for the flavor, as penal legion wouldn't mind fighting dirty up close - plus the free weapon upgrade) - that leaves us with enough to upgrade to a two point commander.

For regimental loadout I'd suggest we spend at least 5 of the points upgrading the main weapon to a Lascarbine. Otherwise our Operator will be stuck with only a las pistol.

The only trouble I really have with the rolls, are the Int and Fel. Otherwise I could live with the rolls. The total spent when comparing it to the alternate method would have been 111 vs. 100, so I do not know if is worth using the alternate method. Plus, the average roll for 2d10 is 11, so most of your characteristics end up below average.

You get everything listed under the regiment choices. The leader selection is more of a how the man up top influences his men, so a Melancholic regimental commander gives all IG under his command the Air of Authority.

Aptitudes only affect how cheap / expensive the character advances are. So they do affect character gen, as you get 600xp to spend initially as a Medic.

I have some more questions then about aptitude. I see the characteristics Per, BS, Int, & WP listed under medic, They would be 500 xp each, correct? Is Knowledge the set of skills or is it a secondary char of Int? What is fieldcraft? And if knowledge is a set of skills what would my cost? Same with fieldcraft.

Though melancholic might be a good fit from the flavor perspective, I really don't see most of us having a use for Air of Authority as a talent. Perhaps there is a choice which gives a less specialized starting talent?

Thanks again Mark. It hard when you don't have a copy in front of you.
So for a 100xp's each, I will raise my Int And Per +5 and raise my Int another +5 for 250 xp's, and medicae +10 for 100 xp's leaving 50 xp's unspent.

Bilious
The regiment’s commander is ill-tempered and paranoid,
continually suspicious of betrayal, and watchful of enemies and
allies alike. He regards vigilance as the greatest of virtues, and
encourages suspicion and watchfulness amongst his men.
Cost: 2 points
Starting Talents: Paranoia

Circumspect
The regiment’s commander is balanced in his attitudes and
careful in his decision-making, yet often overly cautious. His
demeanour encourages his men to similarly consider situations
before they strike, observing the battlefield before acting.
Cost: 2 points
Starting Talents: Foresight

Choleric
The regiment’s commander is decisive and leads from the front,
taking charge of situations personally, and never afraid to do
what he orders his men to do. However, he is quick to anger, and
can often be drawn into foolish actions. His men are continually
ready for action, and familiar with the rigours of battle.
Cost: 2 points
Starting Talents: Rapid Reaction

Maverick
The regiment’s commander is something of a rebel, regarded
as ill-disciplined and unpredictable by his peers, but his
attitude and his daring make him beloved by his men, who
see their leader as one of them, rather than one of “the
officers”. So long as he leads, they will follow him anywhere.
Cost: 2 points
Starting Talents: Resistance (Fear)

Sanguine
The regiment’s commander is confident and optimistic,
though sometimes too caught up in dreams of glory and
triumph. While inspirational to his men with grandiose
speeches and heroism, his ambition has often seen them faced
with impossible odds, caught up in their commander’s quest
for glory, and they must battle hard to survive.
Cost: 2 points
Starting Talents: Die Hard

Or there is the option to stick to phlegmatic, and choose a 3 point Training Doctrine instead.

1. Rook--I love the splash page for the wiki. As usual, great job. Thanks for doing that!

2. Mark--Thanks for taking time to explain rules, character creation, etc., for everyone. I may have gotten to it eventually but you have saved me time, explained it better than I could, and sped up the process considerably.

4. With regard to Commander choice, I'd love to see Melancholic or Phlegmatic. I'd hate to see the team make a choice that doesn't fit the flavor of the campaign just for the regimental bonus and would rather nerf things a bit.

Is there a substitute Talent for Air of Authority that would still "work" for the Melancholic commander? I'm open to proposals.

Hmm - Air of Authority is a Tier 1, but some of the other 2 point commanders give Tier 2 talents.

How about

Foresight:

Prerequisite: Intelligence 30
Aptitudes: Intelligence, Knowledge
Logic and analysis do for the character what animal entrails and the bones claim to do for the superstitious masses. By careful consideration of all the possible consequences and examination of all evidence and information, the character can identify the best path for success. By spending ten minutes studying or analysing a problem, the character gains a +10 bonus to his next Intelligence Test or a Skill Test based on Intelligence.

Works in with the whole think for themelves angle of Melancholic?

At the moment it looks like we're set for Regiment, Homeworld and Special Equipment Doctrine -> leaving just the Commander and Training Doctrine to go. At the moment it's a choice between:

Mark, I like Foresight as a possibility. I agree that has the proper feel for "figure it out on your own" since no one is telling you what to do. Consider Foresight as a substitute of Air of Authority for Melancholic if the team likes that better.

We all get some extra gear from our "Specialties" that show up in the list.

I couldn't find Pity the Weak talent, which seems to be according to the forum the same as Black Crusade talent and use it like that.

There are no rules for Sentinels, but I can come up with something using the Eldar walker (if they have one, I got to check) as guide for the Scout Sentinel or Armored Sentinel.

Or we can just take the chimera so we can all move in a transport, which seems the most probable choice since it would benefit all and not just the Operator (poor lil' ol' me). I just noticed I have less wounds than everyone else ><